News

Bat found in Meadowthorpe tests positive for rabies

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department received word this afternoon that a bat found in Lexington has tested positive for rabies. The bat was discovered in the Meadowthorpe (40511 ZIP code) area. The health department posted signs in the area on Friday to notify residents of the discovery.

LFCHD officials continue to remind residents to make certain their pets have a current rabies vaccination. There does not appear to be any contact between neighborhood animals and the bat, but officials ask that residents keep watch on their pets. Early symptoms of rabies include a change in behavior, chewing at the bite site, fever and loss of appetite.

Bats that are active during the day or are unable to fly might be suspect for having rabies. To minimize the risk for contracting rabies, it is best never to handle any bat. If you find a bat in your home and the possibility of human exposure cannot be ruled out, contact the Division of Environmental Health and Protection at (859) 231-9791 for help with having the animal collected and submitted for rabies testing.

To prevent bats from entering your home, carefully examine your home for holes that might allow bats to enter the residence. Any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch could allow for bat entry. These openings should be blocked either with stainless steel wool or caulking in the fall or winter so you do not unintentionally trap bats within your home.

Common ways for bats to enter homes include down the chimney, through openings around the chimney, through vents, through openings behind shutters, under doors, under siding, under eaves and under shingles.

Rabies, a viral disease of humans, pets and wild animals, is transmitted from animals to humans by the saliva of a rabid animal, usually from a bite. State law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets maintain a current rabies vaccination.

Schedule kids’ 2023-24 back-to-school immunizations today

As Fayette County students prepare to head back to school, the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is making sure they have plenty of opportunities to get their required vaccinations.

To beat the back-to-school rush, the health department will be offering immunizations by same-day appointment at the Public Health Clinic at 650 Newtown Pike. To schedule an appointment or for more information about the immunizations, please call (859) 288-2483.

Participants must be 18 years or younger and be uninsured or underinsured. Medicaid is accepted. Immunization records must be brought to the appointment, and physicals will not be provided. A legal guardian must be present.

When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk and can spread diseases to others in their classrooms and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer or other health conditions.

Fayette County students who are new to the school district or are entering kindergarten are required to bring a Kentucky immunization certificate in order to enroll. Sixth-grade students and 16-year-olds are also required to have certain boosters and must bring an up-to-date immunization certificate. Please call the health department’s school health division at (859) 288-2314 for more information.

Keep a watch on air quality

Some parts of the United States are being impacted by wildfires in Canada. Health officials urge caution for those spending time outside, particularly people with some existing conditions. (Learn more from the Kentucky Department for Public Health: Air Quality).

People with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more likely to suffer immediately, said Rachel Keith, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Louisville, but air pollution can have long term effects on health as well.

Air pollution can trigger heart attacks, Keith said. Exposure over time can increase the risk of heart disease, some cancers and diabetes.

If people with asthma or COPD feel they need to use inhalers but it’s not helping, “and you still feel like you are having that air hunger or still having an asthma attack,” it’s time to see a doctor, Keith said.

Also keep an eye out for signs of a heart attack: pain and chest pressure, nausea, lightheadedness.

The New York State Department of Health offers the following tips:

When Air Quality is Unhealthy

  • Stay indoors with windows closed. This is the best way to avoid health effects. This is especially important for at-risk groups (“sensitive populations”), like young children, older adults, people with respiratory or heart problems, and those who exercise or do strenuous work outdoors.
  • For people who spend time outdoors, wearing a well-fitting face mask is recommended.
  • If it gets hot inside, cool off with air conditioning if you can.
  • People with any symptom should contact their healthcare provider.

For the most up-to-date air quality information for your area, visit airnow.gov.

Pride Month 2023

Happy Pride Month, Lexington! We are celebrating daily by putting our values on display for everyone: Caring, Accountability, Respect, Equity and Service!

Pride is more than a month at the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

Our Community Health Equity and Education team is helping Lexington be well by working daily to achieve health equity in our areas of diabetes prevention and management, nutrition, HIV testing, wellness, child care health and safety, and tobacco, regardless their race, ethnicity, national origin, faith, age, sex, ability, class, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender presentation.

Learn more by calling 859-288-2446 or visiting www.lfchd.org/health-education.

Be sure to come see us a the 2023 Lexington Pride Festival! We’ll be providing information and some great giveaways, shown below!

Cookout safety tips for holiday and summer picnics

One out of every six people get sick from a foodborne illness each year, and a few extra precautions can help keep your summer meals, cookouts and picnics illness-free this year.

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department wants to increase awareness of food safety as people head into the summer picnic season. The following food safety guidelines can help you prevent the spread of food-borne illness from picnic meals shared with family and friends:

  • Keep hands clean. Wash hands before eating or preparing food, after using the restroom, between handling raw and ready-to-eat items and after handling pets. Wash with hot soapy water and dry with paper towels.
  • Clean and sanitize surfaces often. To sanitize surfaces, use a solution of regular household bleach and warm water. Add about 1 tablespoon of bleach to 2 gallons of water for the right concentration. Sanitize by first washing and rinsing the surface and then immerse, spray or swab with the bleach solution.
  • Separate – don’t cross-contaminate. Separate raw foods from ready-to-eat foods. Use different cutting boards or wash, rinse and sanitize after contact with raw meat, poultry and seafood. Never use the same plate for holding raw meat and transporting cooked meat.
  • Be sure to wash all produce thoroughly before use. Thoroughly clean the outer surface before slicing and keep work surface and utensils clean and sanitized. Handle all cut melons carefully, including cantaloupe and watermelon. Promptly refrigerate sliced melon at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower.
  • Follow the cooking guidelines listed below for proper meat preparation. Cook food to the proper internal temperature. Always check the internal temperature of cooked foods with a metal-stemmed thermometer and cook another 15 seconds after the thermometer indicates it has reached the proper temperature.

 Ground beef: 155 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds

Poultry and stuffed meats: 165 degrees F for 15 seconds

Pork products: 145 degrees F for 15 seconds

Other products: 145 degrees F for 15 seconds

Reheating leftovers: 165 degrees F for 15 seconds

  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly. Leftovers should be cooled and maintained within four hours at 41 degrees Fahrenheit or lower or frozen at zero degrees or lower. When you are unsure how long leftover food has been out of proper serving temperature, a good rule of thumb to follow is “when in doubt, throw it out!”

Freedom from Smoking class starts June 20

Did you know that when YOU quit smoking everyone around you will benefit too?

Quit smoking and you’ll cut the harmful effects of secondhand smoke (smoke that’s exhaled or comes from the burning end of cigarettes, cigars and pipes) for those around you.

Each year in the United States secondhand smoke:

• Causes about 7,300 deaths from lung cancer in adult nonsmokers

• Causes close to 34,000 deaths from heart disease in adult nonsmokers.

If you’re ready to quit, we’re here to help. LFCHD and the Bourbon County Health Department are partnering to offer “Freedom from Smoking” an online tobacco cessation class starting June 20 (8-week class). There are still spots available to join!

For more information, call 859-288-2377 or 859-987-1915.

Board of Health to hold special meeting and hearing May 8

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Board of Health has rescheduled the special meeting previously set for 3 p.m. May 4, 2023, to occur during the monthly regular meeting of the Board of Health at 5:45 p.m. May 8, 2023, at the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Health Department building located at 650 Newtown Pike, Lexington, Kentucky, 40508. Attendance will be in person. The agenda can be found here: Board of Health Hearing Agenda for May 8.